Fallen stars Why Hollywood A-listers are flopping commercially
This season, big stars like Margot Robbie, Dwayne Johnson, Julia Roberts, and Keanu Reeves have faced disappointing box office results.
Fallen Stars: Why Hollywood A-Listers Are Struggling at the Box Office
This fall, Hollywood’s brightest stars have faced a humbling reality: audiences aren’t automatically showing up anymore. Big names like Margot Robbie, Colin Farrell, Dwayne Johnson, Emily Blunt, Channing Tatum, Kirsten Dunst, Jennifer Lopez, Julia Roberts, Andrew Garfield, Keanu Reeves, Seth Rogen, and Daniel Day-Lewis have seen their films underperform, in some cases spectacularly. A group that would make for a glittering Oscars broadcast couldn’t produce a single box office hit among them.
Even Leonardo DiCaprio, often regarded as one of the most bankable stars, stands as a rare exception. His latest film, One Battle After Another, is heading toward a respectable $200 million worldwide. The difference? DiCaprio had nearly everything aligned: a cast including Sean Penn and Benicio del Toro, a multiple-time Oscar-nominated director, a massive IMAX-ready budget, and overwhelmingly positive critical reception. It’s a perfect example of how, in today’s market, star power alone is rarely enough; nearly every element must converge to succeed.
Meanwhile, films such as A Big Bold Beautiful Journey, The Smashing Machine, Roofman, After the Hunt, Good Fortune, Kiss of the Spider Woman, and Anemone have failed to ignite interest. Many of these didn’t even receive stellar reviews. Historically, stars provided a baseline audience, ensuring modest box office returns even for films that weren’t critically acclaimed. Actors like Tom Cruise in his prime or Will Smith during his 1990s–2010s heyday consistently brought viewers to theaters. Today, that reliability has largely vanished.
Franchise and IP-driven films have replaced stars as the primary box office draw, but 2025 has shown glimpses that audiences may still respond to original content. Warner Bros. had successes with Sinners, Weapons, F1, and DiCaprio’s One Battle After Another. These films, non-franchise and star-driven, proved that originality can still attract viewers — though only when stars are paired with quality storytelling, strong marketing, and positive buzz.
For many autumn releases, however, none of these factors aligned. These star-laden flops weren’t universally terrible; they simply failed to connect in a meaningful way. Past non-genre fall films like Ticket to Paradise (Julia Roberts, George Clooney), Hustlers (Jennifer Lopez), or Night School (Kevin Hart, Tiffany Haddish) often managed modest but respectable box office returns. Even Don’t Worry Darling (2022), despite mixed reception, earned close to $100 million worldwide, buoyed in part by star curiosity.
Today, it seems audiences demand nearly perfect conditions for non-franchise movies to succeed: excellent reviews, strong trailers, online buzz, and minimal competition. Even films that resonate with niche audiences — One Battle After Another, Challengers, Poor Things, or something lighter like The Fall Guy — rarely achieve the kind of modest theatrical success that was once routine. Audiences may no longer feel compelled to see a movie simply because a famous face is involved, and that shift is reshaping expectations for studios and stars alike.
Celebrity culture is far from dead, though it is changing. Many young people now idolize influencers, YouTubers, or podcasters over traditional movie stars. Yet stars still hold sway; streaming platforms continue to pay top talent to draw viewers to miniseries and high-profile projects. Stars can introduce audiences to stories they might not otherwise explore — as DiCaprio has done repeatedly.
Some performers, like Adam Sandler, maintain near-clockwork appeal on streaming platforms, cultivating reliable fan bases. Others, however, are exploring more personal, character-driven projects that appeal less to mass audiences. Julia Roberts’ portrayal of a prickly college professor in After the Hunt, or Keanu Reeves revisiting the comedic spirit of his Bill & Ted days in Good Fortune, shows that stars continue to experiment artistically — even if that experimentation doesn’t guarantee box office success.
Audiences’ reluctance to follow stars to theaters is not necessarily a reflection of discernment. Many viewers simply prefer the convenience of streaming or wait for overwhelming cultural hype before committing. Liking a star enough to see them perform on-screen has never been an obligation; it’s a form of engagement with personal tastes. Studios increasingly rely on algorithms, franchise branding, and targeted marketing to fill the gap left by waning star power.
In short, the Hollywood star system is evolving. While marquee names still carry weight, today’s audiences demand more than fame alone. Stars can draw attention, but only when paired with compelling storytelling, strong marketing, and cultural momentum. For studios and actors alike, this means that even the brightest lights must navigate a complex landscape to shine at the box office.